grooming | Morning Bray Farm

May 3, 2010

A hodgepodge weekend

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, burros, donkeys, Ellsworth, farrier, Fergus, grooming, Nigel, saddle cinch |
[16] Comments

We were hoping we might have Fergus in a halter by the time our farrier came around on Saturday.

Not yet, but that’s okay.

Okay because Shorty; our farrier, said the difference in Ellsworth this time versus last was night and day. It was only last time Shorty was here he was able to trim Ellsworth’s back feet.

Don bought a new (smaller) saddle cinch for Ellsworth and we tried it on for size later that afternoon.

Everything looked good, so we gave Ellsworth a test drive. Our gentle boy walked me around the corral several times. I never asked Ellsworth to move, but he did turn and stop when we asked him to. I couldn’t believe I was actually riding Ellsworth! ♥

I finally got pictures of one of the boys with their pink donkey tongue left sticking out as they tend to do after they have their drinks of water. It was Bernard.

Love you, love you, love you, love you Bernard. Okay, so here’s another secret. My nickname for Bernard is Buhbee. I don’t know why.

And then, after the post last week about mutual grooming, guess who I saw grooming each other? Ellsworth and Nigel!

April 27, 2010

Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: burros, Fergus, grooming, Nigel |
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Sunday afternoon, I looked out the window and saw Nigel and Fergus doing something that up until then, I had only seen illustrations of in The Donkey Companion. They were mutually grooming each other.

Then again, in the exact same location, yesterday afternoon. In this video, notice Ellsworth in the background rubbing his head on the pipe fencing.

I wonder why Bernard and Ellsworth don’t do this. Do George and Alan do it? What about Chester and Beau? Ruby and Gracie? What about your donkeys or horses or other critters? I wonder if it’s a trust issue. Surely Bernard and Ellsworth trust each other; they freak out if they’re separated for five seconds. You equine enthusiasts out there must have some thoughts, and we’re all ears.

April 22, 2010

First touches

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: burros, Don, donkeys, eye boogers, Fergus, grooming, hug, Nigel, playing |
[23] Comments

Fergus and Nigel are making remarkable progress during their first few days at Morning Bray Farm. By Monday, Fergus was taking carrots and apple slices from my hand.

On Monday afternoon, he was coming to me out of curiosity. (Thank goodness I’ve since been able to remove his eye boogers.)

And let me touch him for the very first time.

On Tuesday afternoon, Fergus allowed Don to brush him.

And even permitted a hug. Nigel is still never far from Fergus.

It was also Tuesday when Nigel took his first apple slice from my hand. No picture because I didn’t want to freak him out with the camera, but I was doing the happy dance in my head.

Yesterday morning, I looked out the window and thought, “Oh look, Bernard and Ellsworth are playing.” I had to do a double take. It wasn’t Bernard and Ellsworth, it was Fergus and Ellsworth! And Bernard and Nigel!